Sink partition



E. C. MOORE SINK PARTITION Filed Nov. 15, 1952 INVENTOR.

SINK PARTITION Ermal Catharine Moore, Dayton, Ghio Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,787

Claims. (Cl. 4-187) This invention relates to a partition and more particularly to a removable partition for dividing a sink or wash basin into two compartments.

In many installations, both domestic and commercial, one compartment sinks are used, usually having a drain in the center. Of late, modern installations may include a double bowl sink, so as to permit the washing of dishes or clothes in one bowl or compartment and the rinsing thereof in the other bowl or compartment, that is, one compartment may be used for one purpose and the other compartment for another purpose. This is found to be very desirable on behalf of many householders. The expense of removing a single compartment sink and installing in its stead a double compartment sink is prohibitive in many instances. It is not only the cost of the double bowl sink; but it is also the cost of installation. When installing a double bowl sink, it is necessary to make certain changes in the plumbing, so as to accommodate two outlets instead of one and so as to provide the necessary spigots for use with a double compartment sink.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a single compartment sink that divides the sink into two compartments, thereby converting the single compartment sink into a double sink at a very nominal expenditure, so as to provide the equivalent of a double sink that is available to many who cannot afiord to replace the old single sink.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removably mounted partition that is adapted to fit various makes and sizes of sinks and that has a water drain mechanism that may be used in draining either compartment or bowl formed by the partition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a partition consisting of a wall or partition member that may be cut or trimmed to size, which wall member when out to the proper size is provided with a peripheral gasket adapted to seal the juncture between the bottom and ends of the partition member and the walls of the sink.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removably mounted, channeled, rubber member adapted to grip the margins of a partition constituting a sheet of material, the rubber member being provided with marginally disposed feather-like edges press-fitted against the walls of the sink so as to provide a water-tight seal to thereby divide the sink into two compartments.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view through the center of the partition for use in converting a single bowl sink into a double bowl sink.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the partition in position in the sink.

Fatented Oct, 9, 1956 Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the partition with the sink shown in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, detailed, fragmentary, crosssectional view, showing the water release mechanism.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modification.

In the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates the main body of a partition for dividing a single bowl sink into a double bowl sink. This main body of the partition may be made from suitable material, such as hard rubber, synthetic rubber or plastic, as the case may be. Integral with this partition 10 are the marginal flanges 12, each of the flanges 12 terminating in a featherlike edge 14 press-fitted against the side wall andthe bottom of the sink 16. i

In view of the fact that a drain pipe 18 in a number of sinks is located in the center of the sink, the 'center portions of the flanges 12 are partially interrupted at 20, so as to provide a semi-circular flap portion 22, bounding the drain pipe 18, but arranged in spaced relation therefrom. These semi-circular flap portions function as stoppers. Associated with each semi-circular flap portion 22 is a drain release mechanism including a plunger 24 provided with a suitable head 26, the plunger 24 projecting downwardly through an aperture in the center of the partition 10. The lower end of each plunger 24 terminates in a pintle 28, seated in a slot 30 of a lever 32 fulcrumed or pivoted at 34 and terminating in an arnr 36 underlying the flap portion 22, so that as pressure is exerted upon the head 26, the arm 36 is raised into the dot-dash position shown to the left of Figure 4, and with it the flap portion. Two plungers 24 and two arms 36 have been provided, one on either side. By pressing down on the head 26, the arm 36 associated therewith raises a flap portion on one side of the partition, opening the drain. By pressing the other head 26, the flap on the opposite side of the partition is opened, so as to drain the other compartment or bowl.

These partitions and the parts associated therewith may be manufactured for a particular type of sink. Some of the older sinks, particularly, vary in size, in pitch and curvature between the side walls and the bottom.

In order to provide a partition that is adaptable for various makes and dimensions of sinks, a composite partition assembly may be used consisting of a partition 01 panel member 40 that is made from a sheet of plastic, rubber, glass, metal or any other suitable material. This panel member is cut to size suitable for a particular sink. For example, it may be cut so that the margins are onehalf inch from the Walls and the bottom of the sink. After this partition has been cut to the proper dimensions, a rubber gasket member 42, provided with a channel 44, is inserted upon the margins of the partition member 40. The sides of the channel 44 are preferably so dimensioned as to tightly grip the sides of the partition member 40. The gasket member 42 is provided with outwardly directed, oppositely disposed flanges 46, terminating in feather-like edges 48 engaging the side walls and the bottom of the sink, so as to provide a watertight joint. The feather-like edges and the flanges cooperate to form a suction cup type of seal for sealing the partition to the walls and bottom of the sink and to hold the partition assembly in place.

Near the center and in the bottom the flanges 46 are provided with flap portions 50, one on either side. Instead of providing a built-in mechanism for opening the flap portions, a chain 52, secured to eyes or knobs 54 projecting upwardly from the flap portions, extends from the top of the partition member 40, so that it is merely necessary to pull one side or the other of the chain to drain one bowl or compartment. This results in an.

inexpensive universal type of partition, easily constructed,

Niewof this invention various changes may :be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangementof parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A removably mounted partition for use in converting a conventional single bowl sink into a double bowl sink wherein the single bowl sink has smooth finished bottom and Wall portions and wherein the single bowl sink has a drain in the center thereof, said partition including apartition wa l Portion spanning the distance across the bowl of the sink, said wall portion terminating in flanges on three sides thereof adapted to seal the wall portion to the walls of the sink and the bottom of the sink so as to form two compartments one on either side of the partition, and wherein the partition is provided with vertically disposed apertures near the center thereof, one of the flanges being provided with flap portions functioning as stoppers overlying the drain of the sink, and means mounted in the aperture for raising and lowering the flap portions.

2. A removably mounted partition assembly for use in converting a conventional single bowl sink into adouble bowl sink, said partition assembly includinga panel member forming the main portion of the partition, said panel member being cut from a piece of sheet material to a contours'imilar to the cross sectional area of that portion of the sink receiving the partition assembly, the walls of the partition being spaced from the side walls and the bottom of the sink, and a resilient gasket member having a channel in which the margins of the panel member are seated, said gasket member having flanges engaging the walls and the bottom of the sink to seal the partition in position to thereby divide the single bowl sink into two 4 compartments, said gasket member being provided with laterally disposed flaps adapted to overlie the drain of the sink, and means associated with the flaps extending to the top of the partition for raising the flaps to open the drain.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the flanges of the gasket member terminate in feather-like edges cooperating to create a suction cup seal for sealing the pantition assembly to the walls and bottom of the sInk.

4. Means for converting a single bowl sink having a drain in the center thereof into a double bowl sink, said means comprising a partition wall spanning the distance across the bowl, said wall portion terminating in a pair of lateral flanges and a lower flange, said flanges adapted to seal the wall portion to the walls and bottom of the sink, so as to form a compartment on either side of said partition, feather-like portions on said flanges for reinforcing the seal between the flanges and the side walls and the bottom of said sink, flaps on the lower flange operating as stops for the drain of the sink, and means operable from the top of said partition for raising and lowering said flaps for opening and closing the drain.

5. In a single bowl sink, having a drain in the center thereof, means for converting said sink into a double bowl sink, said means comprising a partition wall portion spanning the distance across the bowl, said partition wall portion terminating at three of its edges in a pair of lateral flanges and a lower flange, said flanges adapted to seal the wall portion to the walls and bottom of the sink, so as to form a compartment on either side of said partition, closure means on the lower flange operating as stops for the drain of the sink, and means operable from .the top of said partition for opening and closing the drain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,072 Thourot June 30, 1891 523,621 Brueck July 24, 1894 990,371 Minns Apr. 25, 1911 2,036,692 Groeniger Apr. 7, 1936 2,109,089 Mo-yes Feb. 22, 1938 2,203,052 Hanson June 4, 1940 

